Alia Bhatt, who began her journey in Bollywood with Student of the Year in 2012, recently made her much-anticipated debut at the Cannes Film Festival, marking nearly 12 years in the film industry.
The actress turned heads with three stunning appearances, most notably in a custom-designed Gucci ensemble resembling a traditional Indian lehenga, drawing widespread praise from fans and fashion critics alike.
While Alia was in the French Riviera fulfilling her ambassadorial commitments for luxury brands Gucci and L’Oréal Paris, her thoughts were firmly back home in India, with her daughter Raha Kapoor.
Motherhood: A Transformative Journey
In a candid conversation with Brut India, Alia opened up about how motherhood has deeply transformed her, not only as an individual but also in the way she views the world.
“It felt like the person I used to be had vanished,” she shared. “I kept asking myself, ‘Who am I now? Who is this new version of me?”
Though she admits she’s still discovering whether this change will influence her film choices, Alia emphasized that becoming a mother has significantly deepened her empathy.
“Your heart just opens up in a way that’s hard to explain,” she said. “I’m not the same person I was before becoming a mom. That shift in identity happens naturally. I think differently now, without consciously deciding to.”
A Newfound Connection With Other Mothers
One surprising realization for the actress was her ability to share silent yet profound conversations with fellow new mothers. “We just look at each other and understand exactly what the other is feeling,” she said.
Despite traveling solo to Cannes, Alia never felt alone. “Raha’s presence is always with me,” she said with a smile. “Your sense of self changes. You stop thinking only about yourself.
You begin to care so deeply for this one person that it extends to everyone around you. Their pain feels like your child’s pain. You start seeing the world through their eyes. It’s overwhelming and beautiful.”
On the Global Rise of Indian Cinema
Alia also weighed in on the increasing global recognition of Indian cinema, stating that India’s film industry is inherently vast and diverse. “We are practically a continent.
Our dialects, languages, and cultures shift every few kilometers. Global acknowledgment will come in its own time, but that doesn’t change our artistic contributions,” she noted.
She expressed immense pride in recent international accolades, including filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s win at Cannes and the presence of the team behind Homebound on the red carpet.
“It’s not the beginning; it’s a long overdue acknowledgment,” Alia said. “It feels like a dam ready to burst. We have so much to offer in cinema, music, and art.”
What’s Next for Alia Bhatt?
Alia was last seen in Vasan Bala’s Jigra. Up next, she’ll be starring in YRF’s Alpha—the first female-led film in their spy universe.
She’s also reuniting with acclaimed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Love & War, where she will share the screen with her husband Ranbir Kapoor and Raazi co-star Vicky Kaushal.
As Alia continues to balance her evolving roles as a mother, actress, and global ambassador, one thing is clear—she’s entering a new chapter with grace, introspection, and an unwavering passion for storytelling.